The Growing Child: School-Age (6 to 12 Years)

What can my child do at this age?

As your child continues to grow, you will notice new and exciting abilities that your child develops. While children may progress at different rates and have diverse interests, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group:

6- to 7-year-olds:

Enjoys many activities and stays busy

Likes to paint and draw

May lose first tooth

Vision is as sharp as an adult's vision

Practices skills in order to become better

Jumps rope

Rides a bike

8- to 9-year-olds:

More graceful with movements and abilities

Jumps, skips, and chases

Dresses and grooms self completely

Can use tools (i.e., hammer, screwdriver)

10- to 12-year-olds:

Remainder of adult teeth will develop

Likes to sew and paint

What does my child understand?

As children enter into school-age, their abilities and understanding of concepts and the world around them continue to grow. While children may progress at different rates, the following are some of the common milestones children may reach in this age group:

6- to 7-year-olds:

Understands concept of numbers

Knows daytime and nighttime

Knows right and left hands

Can copy complex shapes, such as a diamond

Can tell time

Can understand commands with three separate instructions

Can explain objects and their use

Can repeat three numbers backwards

Can read age-appropriate books and/or materials

8- to 9-year-olds:

Can count backwards

Knows the date

Reads more and enjoys reading

Understands fractions

Understands concept of space

Draws and paints

Can name months and days of week, in order

Enjoys collecting objects

10- to 12-year-olds:

Writes stories

Likes to write letters

Reads well

Enjoys using the telephone

How does my child interact with others?

A very important part of growing up is the ability to interact and socialize with others. During the school-age years, parents will see a transition in their child as he/she moves from playing alone to having multiple friends and social groups. While friendships become more important, the child is still fond of his/her parents and likes being part of a family. While every child is unique and will develop different personalities, the following are some of the common behavioral traits that may be present in your child:

6- to 7-year-olds:

Cooperates and shares

Jealous of others and siblings

Likes to copy adults

Likes to play alone, but friends are becoming important

Plays with friends of the same gender

May have temper tantrums

Modest about body

Likes to play board games

8- to 9-year-olds:

Likes competition and games

Starts to mix friends and play with children of the opposite gender

Modest about body

Enjoys clubs and groups, such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts

Becoming interested in boy-girl relationships, but does not admit it

10- to 12-year-olds:

Friends are very important; may have a best friend

Increased interest in the opposite gender

Likes and respects parents

Enjoys talking to others

How to help increase your school-aged child's social ability:

Consider the following as ways to foster your school-aged child's social abilities:

Set and provide appropriate limits, guidelines, and expectations and consistently enforce using appropriate consequences.

Model appropriate behavior.

Offer compliments for your child being cooperative and for any personal achievements.

Help your child choose activities that are appropriate for your child's abilities.

Encourage your child to talk with you and be open with his/her feelings.

Encourage your child to read and read with your child.

Encourage your child to get involved with hobbies and other activities.